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ICAP Teams up with Weather Derivative Industry Participants to Raise Funds for Hurricane Relief Efforts; ''Brighter Days Ahead'' Program to Generate Funds for America's Second Harvest

Business Wire, Oct 5, 2005

NEW YORK -- ICAP plc (LSE:IAP), the world's largest interdealer broker, announced today that it has teamed up with other industry participants involved in trading Weather Derivatives to lend their support and raise funds for the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The fundraising effort has been deemed "Brighter Days Ahead" and will generate proceeds for America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization. In addition to ICAP, the Weather Derivative industry participants supporting this charitable cause include: Accord Energy Limited, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Coriolis Capital Limited, GuaranteedWeather, Munich Re Group, Powernext, Takara LP, Wolverine Trading, Yellow Jacket Software and the Weather Risk Management Association.

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"Weather is our business and about one-third of the US gross domestic product is directly or indirectly affected by weather," said Colt Heppe, head of weather derivatives at ICAP. "As a result, we felt a strong sense of urgency to help those in need and initiate a fundraising program with other market participants that would bring some good to an otherwise devastating situation."

The "Brighter Days Ahead" fundraiser is a raffle concept where for every $25 that is donated, a donor receives a raffle ticket for one of more than 30 items listed on www.BrighterDaysAhead.org. The raffle drawing will be held on October 25. Winning raffle ticket prizes include a big screen plasma high definition television, a trip for four to Disney World, the ever popular iPod and numerous gift certificates for restaurants, clubs and online shopping. "The prizes are not necessary but it makes donating more appealing to people who plan to support this valuable cause anyway," said Paul Murray, head of weather and commodity market at Munich American Capital Markets.

In order to garner support for this charitable effort, Ms. Victoria Schweizer, Brighter Days Ahead Fundraiser Coordinator and one of ICAP's weather derivatives brokers, was inspired to create a short movie which underscores the importance of supporting those fellow Americans who were displaced as a result of these natural disasters. This heartfelt short movie presentation which can be found on www.BrighterDaysAhead.org website has been widely circulated throughout the internet and is receiving warm reception and praise from all who view it. Ms. Schweizer commented, "In watching the coverage on the current status of relief efforts, there are still areas of the Gulf Coast that remain under 6 feet of water. It is difficult to imagine losing one's home and other personal effects and then not being able to find food. In an effort to assist those hurricane victims in need of food, the ICAP Weather Derivatives desk along with our colleagues in the Weather Derivatives industry felt compelled to implement the Brighter Days Ahead fund with the contributions being directed to America's Second Harvest."

About America's Second Harvest

America's Second Harvest is the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization with a Network of more than 200 regional member food banks and food-rescue programs serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The America's Second Harvest Network secures and distributes nearly two billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. The America's Second Harvest Network supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies operating more than 94,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes. Last year, the America's Second Harvest Network provided food assistance to more than 23 million low-income hungry people in the United States, including more than nine million children and nearly three million seniors.

About ICAP

ICAP is the world's largest voice and electronic interdealer broker with a daily average transaction volume in excess of $1 trillion, 50% of which is electronic. The Group is active in the wholesale market for OTC derivatives, fixed income securities, money market products, foreign exchange, energy, credit and equity derivatives.

Please go to www.icap.com for more information.

Business Services Industry

ICAP Teams up with Weather Derivative Industry Participants to Raise Funds for Hurricane Relief Efforts; ''Brighter Days Ahead'' Program to Generate Funds for America's Second Harvest

Business Wire, Oct 5, 2005

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